The Journey

I have not posted anything to this site and really need to be more active…so. I was asked by my wife a couple of weeks ago if I could make a few pens for birthday gifts, I said sure should be easy. She wanted special wood, still no problem. Getting me out into the shop to do it, major headache. I had gastric bypass surgery 6 months ago and with all the extra energy you would think it would not be a problem. Well it has been but I’m finally getting to that place I want to be. Mostly I need to clean and organize my shop. Pen parts are a royal pain the B#$% to keep up with if you don’t have a clean place on your work bench. Ok so I finally got stuff moved around and thrown away enough to work and got all three done before tonight. Yea, but I have come to some interesting conclusions. I love turning, I really like making stuff beside the normal bowls. I just finished a series of 3 scratch awls and will probably make a couple more. I plan on giving most of them away but I learned a huge amount of stuff while doing it. Pens are great but I don’t have a pen press and I was going to buy one but I think I can make one better and stronger and still beat the $49 that woodcraft or $39 + shipping that Craft Supply wants. I also have been corresponding with Robert at Czeck tools he makes some killer marking knives and I bought one and then bought a kit and then a couple more. I’m really having fun with this. I guess the point is just because you see a clear path isn’t it amazing all the little side roads that appear and you might as well enjoy them, since we only get to do this living thing one time. Have a wonderful day. Ciao!

Good to hear you’re up and about!If you run out of things to do, I’ve always got some cleaning you can come do~There are a lot of different ways to press pens without a pen press. reember finesse not force.Keeoing everything aligned is key. Lots of shop made presses out there to get ideas from…I have a small plastic tote with a snap on lid for pen parts, kits, bushings etc. everthing except wood; and that is most everywhere else.

-- CaptnA - "When someone hurts you, write it in the sand so the winds of forgiveness will scatter the memory... "